Chiefs Defender Fit For Sundowns Clash
Kaizer Chiefs defender Edmilson Dove has been declared fit and is ready to contribute as they face Mamelodi Sundowns at a sold-out Lucas Moripe Stadium on Saturday.
Dove’s season was derailed early after he ruptured his Achilles tendon during the club’s pre-season training camp in Turkey, forcing him to undergo reconstructive surgery.
The 31-year-old, whose contract with Chiefs expires in June, is relieved to have overcome his injury and is eager to return to the pitch for the remainder of the season.
“It hasn’t been an easy journey but, by the grace of God, I am running again. I want to thank the doctors and express my gratitude to the Club for all the resources that were put at my disposal to help me recover as soon as possible,” Dove said on the Chiefs website.
“I also deeply appreciate the support from my teammates and the technical staff. It has really helped me a lot.”
Chiefs face a dominant Sundowns side, who lead the Betway Premiership with 51 points from 19 matches, a significant 26 points ahead of Nasreddine Nabi’s Chiefs.
Despite Sundowns’ strong form and two previous victories over Chiefs this season, Dove remains optimistic.
“These are the types of games each and every player wants to be involved in. There is no need for any extra motivation. We are all excited. You can see it in the eyes of our players and the work they are putting in this week,” he said.
The Chiefs website acknowledged that “it would take a minor miracle for Amakhosi to win the Betway Premiership title this season,” but highlighted their progress to the Nedbank Cup quarterfinals and their realistic chance of qualifying for CAF competition in 2025/26.
For Dove and his teammates, the prospect of winning a trophy and securing continental competition is a strong motivator.
“We still have a lot to play for this season and our policy is to take one game at a time, either to get through to the next round of the cup, or collect as many points as we can in our remaining matches. The vibe throughout the club is positive and highly motivated,” he said.
